The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-01

Remarkable Specimens of Expert Fly-Casttng
by Members of the National Association.
New York Sun
On the bank of Harlem mere in Central Park,
directly One-hundred- and tenth street
from the Polo grounds. 500 guileless anglers ana
their wives and children watched all day yester,
day the fifth annual tournament OF the Natlonai
Reel and Rod Association. The club headquar-
tiers was in wall tent close by the water. The
contests were for medals and for anglers hshins
tackle. from split bamboo fly-rods to patent IN
detachable medicine TASKS.
From the curving shore OF the mere little
pier, rising foot above the surface. extended
twenty feet into the pond, and from the END OF
the pier lines of red, white and blue cork floats
extended at right angles to the shore All day
men whipped the water along the line OF noats,
while judges bobbed in a boat to measure the
distance from the pier that the remotest NJ
dropped into the water. The meeting will be
memorable from the fact that IN four or i've
events the record was broken.
In single handed fy-casting Secretary Con
zalez Poey the flies II feet, and being
ranked high for delicacy and accuracy, he re-
ceived 100 points and got the first prize, SO
gold medal. T. B. Stewart was next with 10y
points, a cast of 70 feet. and a prize of $50
split bamboo f1v-rod. Dr. George Trowbridge
was third with 81 feet cast, LOG points. and a
prize Of $50 rod. G G. Levison took fourth
with " feet cast, los points, and $40 rod
Graydon johnson cast GO feet, got So points. and
received $15 fy-rod. Fred Mathers cast 81
feet, got so points. and was presented with
copy of Fishing with the Fly" and enough flies
TO catch salmon, bass and trout for ten years
Finally, j. l.. Cornell cast 65 feet. and received
II points and a of tackle.
Then came switch fycasting, new class in
troduced by Harry Pritchard, in which the con-
testant is not permitted to let his flies 60 behind
him. 1t is a useful cast, when fishing from
densely wooded bank, in brook fringed by
alders. In this class the most wonderful cast on
record made BY n. w. Halves, of Central
Valley, n. Y. Pritchard was champion of the
world at this style of casting, from 1882 to 1885,
at 81 feet, and in 1885 r. G. Leonard raised the
record foot Halves Yesterday cast the flies
102 feet. putting the previous record 10 feet be-
hind. Harry Pritchard cast 80 feet, Ed Eggert
r. and c. G. Levison 20 feet. Halves won $25
gold medal PrItchard fy-rod presented by
himself to the association. Eggert an order tor
silk hat and Levson tacklebox.
The record also broken in the salmon fly
casting contest The best previous record WAS
131 feet, by H. w. Halves in 1884. r. G. Leon
ard cast his flies 1872 feet, receiving twenty five
dollar gold medal. Fl. w. Halves next with
1913 feet and a prize of a hfteen-dollar gold
medal E. D. Eggert was third with lib feet,
and a prize of $40 cash. Harry Pritchard was
fourth with los feet. Mr.. Pritchard got tackle
box. T. B. Mills cast tho flies 1O7 feet. and got
years subscription to the Forest and Stream.
The fourth contest WAS minnow-casting for
black bass, with a half-oun sinker on the line.
The contestants went to the Polo Grounds to
decide it. A. j. Drese, of Baltimore. had the
1885, and yesterday Mr.. Dresel beat his own
record by casting 1873 feet He got. for the first
prize for casting an average OF Ill feet In i've
casts, and for receiving 159 as total score in
GLIDING points for accuracy. style and form. a
rowboat worth $45. Sidney Frey, of Baltimore.
cast 125 feet, got average OF SO 20 feet In
FIVE casts, received l42 25 points, and prize of
a $50 mnnow casting rod. Gonzalez Poey cast
104 feet, averaged 80 3-5 feet received lis 3.5
points. and was presented with a $l6 spilt-bam
boo minnow rod. Ed Egeert cast so feet, aver
aged 81 35 feet. received "a 3-5 points and got q
dozen bass bugs and dozen trout bugs. j. L.
Cornell slung the sinker q feet, received 81
points, and got pocket tackle case.
Then Messrs. Poey, Frey, Dresel and Eggert
struggled for SIS gold and platinum scarfpin
Poey slung the bug 1861 feet. and took the pin.
Finally the expert hy-casters with one hand
whipped the water for prizes. r. c. Leonard
cast the flies 81 feet. and beat the previous rec
ord feet. Mr.. Leonard got $25 gold medal.
Thomas Mills equaled the best previous record
by casting 90 feet. He received $40 amateur
Photographic outfit. Fl. w. Halves cast go feet
and got $40 spot cash. Ed Eggert cast 81 feet,
and took a rubber coat. and John Gray cast 20
feet and took in Sc worth of cigars